The Enabling Festival 2023/24 (Scented Stories) by Enable Asia

Belachan

2023-08-01 09:38:54 UTC

Danny Raven Tan

56 yo
Painter/Co-founder Tiffin Gallery

Caregiver for 89yo mother who has dementia.

My mother is Perenakan and she is a good cook. She uses a fair amount of Belachan in her cooking. What is Belanchan?

Belachan is the building block for most Perenakan’s cooking. “Belachan” is a shrimp paste made from finely crushed shrimp and mixed with salt, and then ferment for a few days / weeks.

The distinct smell of roasted pungent belachan will always remind me of my mother cooking in the kitchen. She will wrap the Belachan over the fork and roast it over the stove. Almost instantly, the entire neighbourhood will be drowned in this delicious scent when the Belachan is roasted.

Occasionally , I was tasked to pound the rempah - Together with red chilli, garlic, ginger and belachan (shrimp paste) and lemongrass. The rempah forms the essence for all Perenakan’s cuisine.

I still remember using mom’s granite motar in the kitchen, next to the bamboo roll up blind. We did not have any grilled window then - Heavy rain will warrant the kitchen wet.

I wish I can help my mom pound her rempah but she is not able to cook anymore.

If I have dementia, I strongly believe the pungent scent of Belachan is the key to open the door to my memories of my childhood and mom's Perenakan cooking in the kitchen.

Herbal chicken soup

2023-08-01 11:20:27 UTC

Theresa Lye

55 yo
Entrepreneur

Ex- caregiver for 84 yo mother who has mild dementia

I will always remember the intense smell that filled the entire kitchen when my mother boiled her infamous herbal chicken soup. It is simply amazing! My mother believed Chinese herbs used in cooking can promote general well-being, boost energy and strength. I just love the herbal aroma.

When my mother was still strong and able, she will cook her herbal chicken soup , amongst her other delicious cantonese delights, for our weekly family affair. My siblings will gather and play mahjong while others will chit chat over that hot steamy herbal chicken soup made with love by our mother.

Now that my mom is no longer with us, sometimes when I miss her, I will attempt to cook this nutritious dish for my family.

If I have dementia, you can cook a bowl of herbal chicken soup for us to share, and I will be able to share more stories about my family with you.

Yu yee oil(如意油) & Johnson Baby Powder

2023-08-01 12:08:23 UTC

Vincent Goh

55yo
Financial consultant

Caregiver for 80 yo mother

Yu Yee Oil 如意油 is a herbal medicated ointment with sweet peppermint smell. It is used traditionally to relief winds and bloatedness in babies. Chinese mothers have been using it for centuries and it has been time-proven to be an effective treatment for gassy babies.

I remember my mom will apply Yu Yee oil on me and my sister's tummy after our daily shower when we were very young. Next will be a generous douse of Johnson Baby Powder all over our body until we looked like we fell into a flour mill.

The nostalgic and instantly recognizable scent of fresh baby powder with delicate balance of soft powdery notes, florals and subtle sparkling fresh green and citrus top notes mixed with the refreshing Yu Yee oil etched a deep memory in me about this daily ritual during my childhood.

The Yu Yee oil was especially refreshing during the hot weather in June.

Everytime when the weather is warm and humid, I will remember my mother's Yu Yee oil.

If I have dementia, the combination of Johnson Baby Powder and Yu Yee medicated oil will trigger memories about my younger days. I will have more stories to tell you.

Shalimar by Guerlain

2023-08-01 20:47:51 UTC

Lionel Roudaut

55 yo
Ex fashion designer turn Vegan Chef. Act as a hobby.

It’s the perfume Shalimar.

When I was 4 years old, I remembered my preschool teacher whom I loved very much named Madam Peiffer. I was fascinated by her looks. She was elegant and slim with dark hair cut in a mob with a fringe. She was also stylish in her dressing. I didn’t want to leave that teacher. I felt so good being near her. It was mysterious.

Madam Peiffer was very kind and demure, unlike the other teachers whom were rough and tough. She wore the scent that I will never forgot and identified as being Shalimar from Guerlain.

When I was 16 years old, my father was posted to the Caribbean island of Martinique at that time, as a gendarme from the army branch. I attended my high school and college there.

One day, while I was walking home, I chanced upon a familiar scent on the street when this lady walked passed me. My heart skipped a beat and I froze. I stopped the lady and asked what was she wearing. She said : Sharlimar

This perfume has strong reminiscence of my happy childhood memories, where Madam Peiffer would let me be me and do what I enjoyed in the classroom such as drawing, art and craft.

Sun block

2023-08-01 20:50:52 UTC

Autumn Brown

30s,
Multidisciplinary textile artist, natural dyer, educator.

If the smell of sunscreen/sunblock reminds you of bright beach days and tropical getaways, you're not alone. This scent's positive effects are rooted in its association with stress-free vacation time, when you are typically more relaxed and happy than usual.

Every time when I walked past our pool, I smell the sunscreen from my neighbours' kids, it reminds me of those wonderful beach holidays I had at our favourite holiday getaways in Bali or Phuket.

My husband and I make regular trips to Bintan which is a short ferry ride away for some sun, sand and sea. These days, the distinct scent of sunblock has evolved over the years into a mixture of not just an overripe coconut but also , with an undertone of interesting perfume like banana or lavender.

Hence, for me Sunscreen equals Beach Holidays. I believed this scent will always brings a smile to me even if I had dementia.

Durian Mao Shan Wang

2023-08-01 20:53:50 UTC

Lo Mun Wah

55 yo
Homemaker

Durian has been the all time favourite fruit of my parents.

Durian has that awesome scent that fills the air even before one sees the fruit. The rich and aromatic scent is unmistakable to all durian lovers.

Back in the 70s, my dad would buy a few durians and carry them in a brown bag home. They were heavy! We would all sit on the floor and eat them in the kitchen after dinner. It was easier to open the durians on the floor.

I remembered it was quite challenging to open the durian - sometimes we get cuts by the sharp thorns but it was part of the authentic durian eating experience.

We were also taught to drink salt water from the durian husk to ward off heartiness!

Nowadays, the durian eating experience has evolved. When we buy our Mao Shan Wang , it will be dehusked by the durian seller, the durian will be packed in styrofoam and plastic cling wrap for easy take away. There will be no lugging several kg of durians in a brown paper bag home. There is also no need to struggle with our clumsy kitchen knife to pry open the fruit at home.

No matter how the durian is being eaten, the scent from this King of Fruit will always remind me how the entire family crowd round in the kitchen , enjoying our durian feast.

If I have dementia, the strong and pungent smell of durians may be repulsive to some but for me, it is the key to unlock doors to my childhood and the 70s.

Famous Amos Cookie

2023-08-01 21:00:43 UTC

Mary-Ann

46 yo
Consultant

Dementia Singapore

There is a distinct “chocolatey” aroma of Famous Amos Chocolate chip cookies that can be detected wafting in the air the moment we exit Orchard MRT and walk into Wisma Atria.

I remember after my ‘O’ Levels, many years ago, I was working part-time in a bakery at Takashimaya. Taking the MRT, I had to walk from Orchard MRT, into Wisma Atria to go to work. (Wisma Atria and Takashimaya is connected vie an underground tunnel). This distinctive scent of Famous Amos cookies greeted me every time I walked my usual route to my workplace.

Now, this same scent never fails to bring me back to those days. A sense of nostalgia, reminding me of those days during my teenage years when life was carefree and simple.

If I have dementia, many memories may have faded, but this distinctive scent of Famous Amos, will always reminds me of O levels, Orchard MRT, Takashimaya and my teens. Use this scent to connect with me for more stories.

Ensure milk

2023-08-01 21:45:12 UTC

Fauziah Rahman

58yo
Accounts Executive

Ex Caregiver for 81 yo mother who has mild dementia

We normally associate scent of Milk with babies but in this case, it reminded me of my mother.

The last few years before my mother left us, she was on PEG tube feeding because she had difficulty swallowing solid food.

I had to feed her 4 times a day. Everytime, when I opened a new packet of Ensure Milk - the clean, sweet and pleasant vanilla scent will filled her bedroom. It pained me to see mom taking her meal through her nose vie a rubber tube. Sometimes, I can see the despair in my mother's eyes when I was pouring Ensure Milk down the tube.

I was very closed to my mom when young. I used to help her make ice popsicle and sell to our neighbours for 10 cent each at our home.

My mom will make juices like Bandung and Pineapple from scratch. When the juice cooled down, she will pour them into the long narrow plastic bags , secured with rubber band and freeze them in the fridge.

The smell of Bandung does resembled the Vanilla flavour Ensure Milk.

I have not drank Bandung for a long time.

If I have dementia, the scent of Ensure Milk may trigger a bitter sweet memories of my mom and those days when she was not well. It can also brings me back to a time in my life during the 60s.

Chilli crab

2023-08-01 21:51:08 UTC

Stanely

48 yo Semi retired

Singapore Chilli Crab is all about the addictive sauce, a mix of tomato, eggs and aromatic spices. A good Singapore Chilli crab should not be overwhelmingly spicy or sweet.

This aromatic scent of Singapore’s national dish will always reminds me of my dad. He loves the chili crab very much. When he was still alive, he would pester me to bring him out for a chili crab meal at least once a month. It was during these crab makan time that me and my dad bonded. He would share his stories of his younger days with me - about how Singapore has changed over the years.

The chili crab dish is also a must have during family dinner when my sister returns from Auckland during special occasions such as Chinese New Year, birthdays etc.

Hainanese chicken rice

2023-08-01 22:20:55 UTC

Tan Swan Hwee

53 yo
Banking Admin

Ex caregiver for mom with stroke

My name is Tan Swan Hwee and I’m a 53 year-old resident of Toa Payoh. My late mother suffered from stroke for several years until her demise, and I was her primary caregiver for a period.

My parents were immigrants from China, Hainan Island before World War II.

I grew up in a 3-room flat in Toa Payoh North together with 3 brothers and 4 sisters, and I’m the youngest. As you can imagine, life was hard for my parents and money was tight with 8 children to feed. While growing up, my flat felt very crowded with very little personal space, but we were fairly a happy household. Dad was very strict almost to a military level while mum was chilled and saw the lighter side of things.

My most vivid memory of my childhood was the preparation of the reunion lunch on Chinese New Year Eve. Being a Hainanese housewife, mum was good at cooking chicken rice. She made things from scratch : from slaughtering the live chickens to plucking off the feathers and to boiling the chicken. Mum always picked the fattest chicken from market because the fats will enhance the chicken rice taste.

The smell of the chicken broth on to the rice grain will inform me that Chinese New Year was about to begin, because being a poor family, we can only afford to have such a feast during CNY. While mum was busy cooking, dad would manually grind the cut chili, chop the ginger to go with the chicken rice dish.

Another of my favourite dish was the fish maw soup with green peas, brewed with the chicken broth. Unlike those served in restaurant, my mum's fish maw was sliced and stuffed with minced pork. The combination of chicken broth, green peas, fish maw, mushroom and marinated pork created a heavenly umami.

Mum died in Sep 2003, and since then, the celebration of CNY has never been the same for me in every sense. Initially, my eldest sister took over the role of cooking for our expanding extended family but in recent years, age has caught up with her. We now cater in for CNY reunion lunch instead. The food doesn’t taste homely and the CNY celebration feels muted.

When I heard someone said scent could trigger memory, I couldn’t agree more. Whenever I walked past a good chicken rice stall while the chef was pouring the chicken broth onto the rice grain, it triggers memory of my family during Chinese New Year celebration.

It reminds me of my childhood, family bond, home comfort and fundamentally, my roots.

If I have dementia, this delicious scent of Chicken Rice will trigger many of my childhood memories and I will be able to share more stories with you.

Rain

2023-08-01 22:24:36 UTC

Justin Lee

60 yo Visual Artist / Art Educator/Mentor for Canvas Group (Yellow Ribbon)

Lots of people love the smell of rain. It’s an aroma with freshness, cleanness, and wetness. I am one of those people who noticed such distinctive smell, especially strolling along, after a heavy rain pour. It makes me feel like spring, as the smell of fresh-cut grass associated with summer. The smell of rain is called Petrichor.

Rain is only water, and water doesn’t have any smell.

So what makes rain smell so lovely? There is also more than one kind of rain smell, and at many occasion, I smell memory of my upbringing living in old five foot way houses in Chinatown.

Nature plays a significant role in creating the smell after rain. I can smell the atmosphere that I used to live in, and seeing many of my childhood’s neighbouring faces (uncle and aunty, boys and girls) appearing simultaneously. It is also a moment in time, whereby we all come to play, eat and dress under one roof.

Someday, I wish we all can connect together for a day, by sitting under the tree,

after a heavy rain pour.

Love is in the air.

Sam Poh Oil

2023-08-01 22:28:05 UTC

Tan Ling Ling

55yo
Quantity Surveyor

My mom uses only Sam Poh medicated oil to rub on her forehead when she has headache or stress. She will apply on her nose when she is having a cold or flu. Similarly, she will apply this oil to treat insect bites , muscle pain, skin bruises etc. It seems like this particular brand of medicated oil is her antidote for many discomfort.

My mother was the eldest amongst her 10 siblings and her parents were not earning enough money and needed her to stop schooling and take care of the entire household chores including cooking, washing and taking care of her younger siblings.

This medicated oil was the most affordable form of treatment for the family at that time. The Sam Poh medicated oil is cheap and good. It became a handy item for mom to carry around with her in her bag. The smell of minty Sam Poh medicated oil is always lingering in the air when mom is around.

Although my mom is not staying with me but she comes to my house everyday to help me wash and cook. Whenever she is here, I could smell the mild scent of Sam Poh oil in the room. She would never fail to ensure a bottle of Sam Poh medicated oil available at my place. I guess this is one way of my mom showing her love for her children.

Tiger Balm

2023-08-01 22:31:48 UTC

Marcus Mok

57 yo
Actor/Photographer

Ex Caregiver for 92yo mother

I used to stayed in Bukit Timah.

I have 1 older brother and 1 older sister. When we were young, we were always running around at home or outdoors while hunting for fighting spiders and catching fish in the Bukit Timah Canal. We were also rummaging for stamps in trash cans or falling down while playing badminton or football.

Whenever we have health problems like tummy aches, headaches, nausea, insect bites or cuts, our mother will use Tiger Balm gel on us. This iconic analgesic heat rub, somehow, magically , removed all of our discomfort.

Nowadays, whenever I use tiger balm for my mosquito bites, the distinctive smell of the camphor and menthol from this white ointment brings me back to a time when I was 5 or 6 years old - I will be lying in my mother’s lap, feeling secure and loved, while she applied the ointment for me.

I wish she was still around to apply Tiger Balm for me.

I miss my mom dearly.

Pandan leaves

2023-08-01 22:49:18 UTC

Florence Teo

43yo
Freelance Baker

I was brought up by my grandma.

I remember visiting my grandma at Toa Payoh when I was Primary 1. She would cook me meals before/after school for me while my parents were working. My grandmother’s house has a corridor garden filled with lush pandan leaves.

From time to time, I will help my grandmother cut and "harvest" her pandan leaves. I still remember the soft aroma with hints of rose, almond and vanilla, verging on coconut will filled the kitchen when grandmother was making sweet dessert (Tang Shui 糖水) with pandan leaves.

My grandma loves to cook sweet desserts for us. When it comes to Tang Shui, Pandan is one essential ingredient to elevate the taste of the dessert, especially when there is coconut.

Grandma will make Asian desserts like the following for the family.

1) Chinese -Cheng Tng, Beancurd Barley with Ginko Nuts, Kaya, Pandan Cake & Kueh ...etc.

2) Malay -Nasi Lemak, Pulut Hitam, Kuehs,

3) Indian -Putu Mayam..etc

4) Peranakan -Chendol, Kueh Tako, Bubur Chacha & Kuehs...etc

5) Thai -Pandan Chicken & Kuehs...etc

6) Philippines -🤬, Buko Pandan...etc

I love my grandmother's dessert.

In the evening, when my parents came to fetched me, we will gathered together and savoured grandma's delicious Pandan cake and Chendol.

If I have dementia, I think the scent of Pandan will trigger memories of those precious moments with my grandmother in the kitchen. You can use the Pandan to connect with me and may stories.

Peony

2023-08-02 00:17:38 UTC

Yam Weng Choh

59 yo
Buddhist monk

My mother loved peonies.

My mother was a devoted buddhist.She would offer fresh peonies for prayers at home.

I grew up with this fresh, sweet aroma of Peony in our household. Depending on the variety, some Peonies smell stronger than others and their fragrance can range from sweet and rosy to citrusy.

My mother was a very easy going person with good value. We were very closed. She taught me to be frugal and always save for a rainy day.

When I was young , I had very bad eczema and she would bring me to many skin specialists in hope to cure me.

I was a caregiver for my mother when she had cancer in 1998. She was only 69yo.

During her funeral ceremonies, I bought 2 dozens of cut peonies. The prayer lasted for 5 days and the peonies bloomed to the size of a soup bowl.

I can still remember the distinctive scent of the peonies filled the entire prayer Hall during her funeral.

Everytime when I smell peony, I will reminisce about my mother, with or without dementia, I think.

Lotus Seed dessert

2023-08-02 00:31:52 UTC

Vivian Yapp

56 yo

Singaporean Housewife living in Abu Dhabi

When I was 5 yo, I was staying in a kampung at Yio Chu Kang. Every other day, I will follow my mother to the wet market at Upper Serangoon for our family marketing need. This is a trip I look forward to.

The sight and sound of the market is always chaotic and colourful! There’s a distinct smell when you’re in the market. It’s a mix of fish, vegetables, people and concrete.

But the most memorable scent for me is from this dessert seller, a 2 basket hawker, near the entrance of the market. This traditional Cantonese sweet dessert is called lian zi suan. (Lotus seed soup) with its thick caramel soup and soft powdery lotus seed.

I will always remember this scent because my mother will order a bowl of the lotus seed dessert for me. I will sit on a wooden stool, next to the dessert seller while waiting for my mother to finish her marketing. The buttery lotus seeds after cooking in a thick syrup. give off a slightly smoky vanilla scent together with the refreshing pandan leaves.

I will be enjoying the dessert from this iconic chicken motif porcelain bowl while watching the bustling market like a scene from an old nostalgic movie.

If I have dementia, the smell this dessert, will transform me into this little girl waiting for my mom at the Upper Serangoon market. I can share with you the many sights and sounds I witnessed during that time.

Petrichor

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-02 00:50:34 UTC

Ng Tzer Wee

45 yo
Social Worker

Petrichor is a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather.

I studied in Ai Tong Primary School. The school has a very nice garden with beautiful plants and flowers. I joined the gardening society not knowing much about floral and fauna in the beginning.

I remembered we need to do a lot of weeding from our flower bed, clearing the fallen leaves from the trees, pruning the shrubs and water the plants. It was a labourious weekly activity for all of us.

There were days when it rained and I remembered very clearly the scent of the Rain. Of course rain itself has no scent. But moments before a rain event, an “earthy” smell known as petrichor does permeate the air. People call it musky, fresh – generally pleasant. This smell actually comes from the moistening of the ground.

These days whenever I had a chance to experience Petrichor, for a fleeting moment, I am immediately teleported back to my gardening days in Ai Tong Primary School. I can see myself in the garden, among nature, all tired, sweaty and dirtied but happy and gratified to be able to create a nice garden for others to enjoy.

Jasmine Oil

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-02 01:06:40 UTC

Irsyad

28yo
Therapy Assistant (Singapore General Hospital)

When i was a little boy around 4 or 5 years, my late grandma always used a specific hair oil on me every time after I bathed. This bottle of hair oil is made from Jasmine.

My grandmother told me Jasmine oil can effectively lock in the moisture, thereby keeping your hair and scalp well-nourished and healthy. Jasmine hair oil can also significantly treat bacterial or viral infections on the scalp.

After my shower, I will sit on the bed patiently , waiting for grandmother to perform her hair spa on me.

Grandma will retrieved the Jasmine Oil Bottle from her antique cupboard drawer and slowly opened the bottle. The smell of the Jasmine oil will always permeate the room. I never liked using it because of how weird it felt on my head but it was what my grandma wanted. I guess this is one of her way to show love to her grandson.

When my grandmother passed away, nobody uses this oil to massage my head anymore.

There was a period in my life whereby I could not drink jasmine green tea because of this distinct smell. It felt like I was drinking the hair oil itself. Luckily, I got over it by now.

Jasmine is small, unassuming white flowers that bloom at night with such a powerful scent. Everytime when I have a whiff of this scent, may it from the flower itself or in the form of jasmine green tea, the image of my grandmother applying the hair oil on me will conjure in my mind.

I miss my grandmother.

If I had dementia, and if you have a bottle of Jasmine Oil for me, the memorable oil scent will remind me of my days with my grandma. With that, it will make me happy.

Incense

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-02 01:23:49 UTC

Valerie Lam
54yo
Housewife

Lungs are filled with smoke! Can’t breathe! Must get up and find fresh air!

Growing up, a detestable smell will wake me up — the smell of incense. Every morning, without fail, my mother will burn many joss sticks to our ancestors, Buddha and Goddess of Mercy. Standing in the midst of the smoke, she will pray for our safety and good health.

This smell, which chokes me when I was growing up, was also my much needed alarm clock. This love-hate relationship continued till I finally left to start my own adult life.

I do not miss the daily incense, but when I catch a whiff of it, I no longer smell smoke. Instead, I smell the fragrance of blessings.

Tiger Balm

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-02 01:25:18 UTC

Mary
(60s)

Caregiver to Mother with Severe Dementia

There were many uses for Tiger Balm.

My family members and neighbours would use Tiger Balm for mosquito bites and headaches.

It also keeps my mind awake and fresh when I feel agitated or when I get put off by a nearby foul smell or bad odour from some rubbish dump.

The one-of-a-kind herbal blend of Camphor, Menthol, Cassia Oil, etc. produces the Tiger Balm's trademark aroma. Its scent definitely reminds me of my grandparents because they used to rub the ointment on their noses while listening to oldies and songs from Rediffusion while sitting in their rocking chair in the living room.

I will be reading my Doremon comics while eating my Khong Guan biscuit. It was a blissful moment I will always treasure and remember.

Chou Chou

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-02 02:07:50 UTC

Maureen
50s

Caregiver to mother with Mild Dementia

As a caregiver, I lack sleep. However, with my dearest precious *chou chou, I am able to have a good nap in between my caregiving.

I have a peculiar attachment to the sweaty smell of pillows. When I was very young, my caregiver was a Malaysian Chinese who would sew me this precious pillow. I refused to let anyone wash or throw my familiar pillow away as it carried that sweat and my saliva smell which made me sleep securely.

When I grew up, I still loved the sweat smell of pillows and blankets. They reminded me of "home".

Today, when I engaged my mother in conversation using the scent of *chou chou, she would enjoyed our time cuddling and huddling in blankets and pillows until we fell asleep together.

*Chou Chou : Traditionally, the pillows are hand-made by grandmothers and filled with dried bean sprout husks as a gift to their newborn grandchildren so they don't get startled while sleeping. Most may call it chou chou, which translates to "smelly" in Mandarin, and others might know it as bantal busuk (Malay for "smelly pillow")

Siang Pure Oil

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-02 02:11:18 UTC

Alexis Tan Wen Lin

These are scents that bring me back to the days when I was a child and my mum would bring out these “magic potions” when I fell ill. 9 out of 10 times it made me feel instantly better.

Sumpakita (Jasmine)

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-02 02:13:34 UTC

Maricar Villasenor

42 yo
Domestic Helper

The scent is sweet, almost honey-like, and very powerful from this flower called Sumpaguita will always trigger images of my dad and funerals. It’s a little morbid.

Sumpaguita in Filipino phrase means "I promise you," providing connotations of honesty and loyalty. Sampaguita is also the name of the national flower of the Philippines, a variety of sweet-smelling jasmine.

I was very closed to my dad when I was young. I remembered he was a very good cook, even better than my mom. He would cook all my favourite food for me like Kare-kare, chicken Sisig and Tinola.

When my dad passed away at a young age of 54, the funeral home and altar were dressed up with Sampaguita. I was sad but somehow the sweet smelling scent of Sumpaguita seemed to be consoling me and telling me everything will be fine.

If I had dementia, do remember to bring along some Sumpaguita when you visit me. The scent of these flowers will probably be able to bring me on a healing journey.

Cumin and Cinnamon

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-02 02:18:20 UTC

Farah Ong

40s
Independant Artist

I have always had this far fetched imagination. I hope that perhaps, humans can invent a camera for smell or scent. But I don’t think that's even scientifically possible.(apart from essential oil)

When I was 18 years old, I visited Egypt once. I remembered pretty much everything about that place. I was overwhelmed by the culture and its exotic allure.

Several years later, one day I was smoking behind my school. I don’t know what it was, perhaps it was the fumes from the passing vehicle, or the smell of spices, a mixture of cumin and cinnamon - something whizzed by in the air and I remembered how I felt when I was in Cairo. The emotion was instantaneous and beautifully scary.

Immediately, I was transported back to the memories of me walking by the souks in Cairo when I was 18 yo. The sights and sound of this foreign land was burning in my mind. I was reliving this magical moment.

Perhaps it was the character more than the scent.

Perhaps it was a split second of a moment that made me relive that particular scent that actually represented the character of a place/city/country so magical that i managed to experience.

So yes,scent could also be a fleeting catching moment that makes up a memory. I believe even if I have dementia, this memory of mine will be deeply connected to this exotic scent.

Tapai

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-02 02:21:04 UTC

Norsiah Pinard

58 yo
Housewife

When I was growing up, it was my dad who would cook for his eleven children as my mom simply did not know how to cook. No fancy dishes as he had to feed so many mouths but of all his cookings the one that holds dear to me is his favourite dessert "tapai".

Tapai is a form of dessert made through the process of fermenting starchy food. My dad would use cassava roots and would add "ragi" (sweet yeast) for the fermentation. He would first boil the cassava roots and once cooked , left them to cool down completely. He would put them in a big periuk (cook pot), spread the ragi which had been grounded and sprinkled it all over the cassava. He would place our home big batu lesong (mortar stone) to keep the lid tight and then store it under a bed for 4-5 days. As the tapai needed to be stored in dark place. None of his children was allowed to take a peep. The tapai is ready when it starts giving out a strong aroma. As I observed this whole process, what amazed me was when the cassava roots became soft, sweet and juicy. Of course innocently little did I know that the sweet aroma was actually alcohol. The aroma which is similar to that of rice wine. My whole family would devour the tapai in no time. Strangely I never recalled ever getting intoxicated from eating too much of my dad's tapai.

My dad was born in Indonesia where tapai is a popular dessert. The starchy food reminded him also of the tough time during Japanese Occupation in Singapore when there was shortage of food and nothing to eat but ubi kayu as he would call them. He would recount how it was easy to grow as a crop since it didn't need good soil. Thus cassava roots had a strong sentimental meaning to him.

Sadly no one in my family ever attempted to make tapai except for my dad. Whenever I see tapai being sold at the Geylang market the smell reminds me so much of my dad. It automatically triggers memories of my dad and his tapai making. The tapai I have eaten here somehow never tasted as juicy, sweet and tender as my dad's.

If I had dementia, buy me some "tapai" and its intoxicating scent will trigger my memories of stories about my father when I was growing up.

Frangipani

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-02 02:43:47 UTC

Wong Ching Yee

55 yo

Cancer patient, Widow

The scent of frangipani evokes memories of childhood I spent in Tiong Bahru Estate, where I grew up.

Jeffrey, who is my youngest uncle （叔叔） would take me for frequent walks around the neighbourhood, especially this huge field, lined by frangipani trees. Sometimes, I would picked up the fallen frangipani and tucked them behind my ears as accessories.

This path took us to Singapore General Hospital, where he will recite poems and tell me stories. This site has since made way for Central Expressway. Those were joyful moments.

Radiant and captivating, Frangipani has an irresistibly, timeless and enticing scent. Nothing evokes that tropical feeling like the serene scent of Frangipani - it has soothed and calmed me in my low moments and uplifted me during those holiday’s spas trips.

As I journey with my disease, the frangipani will continue to inspire me with its beauty and strength. As for all living things, its transient nature in bloom has also helped me to understand the nature of life that nothing is permanent. In the Chinese culture, 鸡蛋花，as frangipani is known as, is not the most auspicious of flowers. Yet, its special place in my heart will continue to inspire and accompany me to my end days and most definitely welcomed when I depart this life.

If I have dementia, I believed the scent of Frangipani will be able to create conversation for me about my childhood and my uncle.

McCormick Cinnamon Powder

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-02 04:30:39 UTC

William Stuart Koh

18 yo
National Service , Caregiver for 60 yo mother

My mother is Scottish and is a great baker. She uses this specific ground Cinnamon for her signature banoffee cake (as shown in the picture). Banoffee cake has some essential ingredients like bananas, cream cheese and caramel. However, in most recipes except my mom’s, cinnamon is often optional. Her addition of Cinnamon complements the bananas that makes her banoffee cake truly special.

Everyday when I came back from school, I could smell the distinct smell of cinnamon which seeped through every opening in my house. She would call me into the kitchen, give me tight hug and asked me to mash the bananas while she adds a spoonful of cinnamon into the cake batter. Once the cake was in the oven, I would anticipatedly wait for the cake to be out of the oven while taking in the strong smell of cinnamon which permeated the walls of my room.

Once my mom called me, I sprinted down the stairs into the living room and could see the cake waiting for me. The smell of cinnamon was even stronger than before and it drew me towards the cake.

My mom wasn't really particular about the appearance of the cake and neither was I. The bananas would hang off the side of the cake and buttercream spread unevenly. However, it did not matter, to me all that mattered was the taste. The taste was exquisite, despite the strong smell of cinnamon, it never overpowered the taste of the other ingredients. Altogether, the cake blended well and tasted like home.

This serves as reminder of my mom's wonderful baking skills and my western heritage. While she may not be able to make it now. I hope to be able to make banoffee cake for her in the future.

The scent of cinnamon allows me to start conversation with my mom about her baking moments when I was younger.

Cigarettes and Grease

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-02 04:38:45 UTC

Dahlia osman,

51yo

Artist & art educator

I did not get to know my grandfather. His name was Ahmad. He was Javanese. He was mild mannered and very quiet. My grandfather was very tanned. I remember him always in a long sleeve shirt, with cuffs folded loosely up to his forearm and wore smart trousers.

My grandfather, Ahmad Adiman, was a tall, skinny man with broad shoulders. He was a mechanic for The AA, a British automobile company, which provided vehicle and motoring repairs, advice, insurance, lessons and other services. He drove a taxi too, those yellow-tops.

Just as I was writing about his long-sleeved shirt, the familiar scent of grease mixed with cigarette smoke drifted into my mind.

I never saw him smoke but I have seen photographs of him smoking in them. He was a gentle man. He didn’t talk very much, even when we were the only two people at close proximity. I was a latch-key kid and got spooked far too often so dad got grandfather to accompany me at home. Grandpa sat quietly in the living room the whole time. He did not say very much but that scent of him provided much comfort for me. At that time, he was heart broken and was sliding into what seemed like depression and loneliness as grandma passed away a couple of years before him.

If I had dementia, engage with me using these scents for me to share more stories about my grandfather with you.

Daffodils

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-02 06:47:42 UTC

Laura A. Taylor

54 yo
Project Manager

Jonquils daffodils

Heady scent in the Spring air

Calling home to me

Medicated Oil and My Grandfather

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-02 06:50:36 UTC

Cheung Siew Li
40s

Ex caregiver, Healthcare

When I catch a whiff of the medicated oil with the brand name 四季油, i remember my maternal grandfather. It is one of the few memories I have of this self made man who passed when i was 8. He was a talented man who came from China and made his riches through various vocations he learnt.

This medicated oil was his companion - he would use it to cure a cold by rubbing some near the nostrils, it would heal a sore throat and cough if you swallowed a few drops of it, it relieved headaches if you rubbed some on your temples and stopped itch from mosquito bites. It sounded like a miracle cure for all ills and it is still a favourite brand of mine amongst all brands of medicated oil.

My grandfather was an industrious man who gave his all to raise his family. He taught his children many good values and his wisdom came through his many sayings. He was forward thinking though born in late 1800s, encouraging all his children, even daughters, to also study and be independent. He left a great legacy to his children and grandchildren. When I use this medicated oil, i remember my Ah Gong with his pipe and walking stick.

If I have dementia, the scent of 四季油 medicated oil will remind me of my grandfather. I will share with you all the stories I know about him.

VapoRub

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-02 06:52:22 UTC

William Ng

57yo

Caregiver to his 84yo mother

Vicks VapoRub - a topical ointment made of ingredients including camphor, eucalyptus oil and menthol - is usually regarded by my elderly mother as a go-to treatment for common colds and minor aches.

When I was a child and unwell, mom would apply it on my chest, my back, and my nose. I would feel a warm sensation as the VapoRub worked its magic, soothing my cough and making my nose less blocked. The menthol aroma emanating from the ointment was also endearing. More importantly, I felt comforted in mom’s reassuring embrace.

Even now, I can’t smell Vicks VapoRub without thinking fondly about my mom, her attention, and her loving care.

This scent will definitely be a tool for you to connect with me and my memories if I have dementia.

Lavender pillow from Yamanashi Prefecture

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-02 06:57:49 UTC

Glen Tay

40s
Caregiver, Art Gallery Owner

I travel to Yamanashi very frequently for business and pleasure.

Yamanashi is also known as Japan's “fruit kingdom,” producing more grapes, peaches, and plums than any other part of the country, plus a remarkable variety of other delicacies.

I bought the Lavender pillow from Yamanashi prefecture. Lavender has a calming scent for relaxation that puts us in a better mood and helps create a sense of tranquility and peacefulness. This scent never fails to brings me back to the shore of Lake Kawaguchiko where the sea of Lavender was in full bloom.

If I have dementia, this Lavender scent will always remind me of this Japanese town that has a special place in my heart. There are many more stories I can share with you about this town.

Pillow

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-02 07:19:21 UTC

Aileen Goh
56yo
Qi Gong trainer/Housewife/

The smell of my children's pillow will never fail to brings me back to the days when I was a young mother taking care of them - changing their diapers and making bottled milk for them.

Dog

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-02 07:21:36 UTC

Diane Tan Ai Lin

45 yo
Therapy Assistant

Animal shelter: Animal Lover’s League

We lost our family dog last year. The dog is a strong pillar of our family activities.

We visit the dog shelter, Animal Lover’s League, and the scent is what we are familiar with, when our dog was at home with us.

My family dog’s name is Sweetheart.

She was adopted by us since 9 years back.

She brought unconditional love like most pets.

With her going to the estate around for walks, she became a well-known figure or representation of our family.

My father who prefers to stay at home all the while, opened up his shell a little when he was the main walker for Sweetheart.

Every neighbour knew Sweetheart and him.

The scent and sounds of Sweetheart’s barking disappeared when she left our lives.

My father also stopped heading out and many neighbours wondered what has happened.

When my father sees and heard the other dogs in the neighbourhood, his emotions run and we know he misses Sweetheart as much as any of us.

The memories probe any of us and we hope dementia may not affect any of us and take those lovely memories away from us.

Sweetheart was 12 years old when she passed on and such a dear when she was there when we were down.

When the family is disconnected by arguments, she was a steady pillar to give comfort.

We love dogs as they can give that type of therapy to all of us. ❤️

If I have dementia, a visit to a dog shelter will definitely brings back memories of the happy days when Sweetheart was around.

32. Sambal Mak Aku

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-03 13:29:25 UTC

Zai Kuning

59yo
Artist

One of the must have for Malays are Sambal or Sambal belachan. Without it, the daily meal is never complete. Often enough for the Malays, rice with sambal and fried egg is enough as a complete meal.

I was diagnosed with Diabetes Type 1 recently and for diabetic patients, dietary requirements are important so I decided to cook for myself after a long time. The first thing I learn or relearn is to cook my own ‘Sambal Mak Aku’ (my mothers sambal.)

The whole process do bring me down memory lane starting from the ingredients - how you mix them, how you cook them with ‘strict’ procedure, which to fry first, grinding the onion to a preferred texture etc. The making of “Sambal Mak Aku” somehow nudged my memory to remember how much each individual spice is needed and where to find the balance.

The most authentic aroma is the belachan and chili itself where it ‘poke’ your nose at times and makes you sneeze when it is burned by the hot oil. It also brings back your sense of time while cooking as you observed when the fire should be smaller and finally real low to make the rempah thick to your liking. The testing of its sweetness, saltiness, and spiciness brings back the memory of my mom’s usual critique - ’It’s not sweet enough’. This is my mother’s culinary trademark.

Since I started cooking my own sambal again, I can control the amount of sugar and salt used. All my senses seem to be ‘reborn’ again! I thank diabetes that now I know how to make my sambal and how to fry fish with heavy tumeric the way my Mak make it.

The pleasure and joy of remembering how to cook sambal and fry crispy fish led me closer to my late Mak and my Pak who love her cooking. I felt that the both them are always around in the kitchen observing and reminding me - “It’s like this Zai. Not too long Zai. Stop there Zai”.

Everytime when I stepped into the kitchen to cook my sambal, I could literally hear them whispering in the background to me with love and encouragement.

These days, whenever I go somewhere, I must bring along a small bottle of my own DIY sambal.

If I have dementia, the scent of sambal, will trigger beautiful memories of my mom in the kitchen, and I will have more stories to share with you.

Petrichor

2023-08-04 10:49:52 UTC

Muhammad Rhyan Bin Mohd Rosli
18yo
Student

My favourite scent is petrichor because it reminds me of tranquility.

Detergent

2023-08-04 10:51:14 UTC

Joey Tiang Chyong Yi
18 yo
Student

My favourite scent is from fresh washed sheets because it feels clean

Vanilla

2023-08-04 10:53:03 UTC

Nur Dini Qaisarah Binte Mohamad Raffi
18 yo
Student

My favourite scent would be any vanilla scent because it reminds me of walking into a cookie store or bakery.

Jasmine Flower

2023-08-04 10:54:17 UTC

Lim Jun Xiang
18yo
Student

My favourite scent is Jasmine flower because it reminds me of Pontianak.

Lavender

2023-08-04 10:54:58 UTC

Oh Yu Xi
18yo
Student

My favourite scent is Lavender because it calms me.

New books

2023-08-04 13:19:21 UTC

Jez Ong
45 yo
Caregiver, Enterprise Sales Manager

I have always loved the scent of new books since young. I will pester mum to take me to the bookstore.

When I was in my teens, I loved to go to bookshops to browse through the books on the shelves. To be in the presence of this vault of knowledge together with all these authors being immortalised into books and transcended through the book scent.

I even worked in bookshops to be in the presence of books during school holidays.

Many bookstores have closed down. The era of e-books and audiobooks. I miss holding a hard cover book and flipping the pages. The smell of a physical book is enchanting because it triggers our sense of smell that brings me back to the good old days.

If I have dementia, give me a brand new book anytime - the scent of new books will trigger my countless visits to bookstores with my mom and my holidays working in bookstores.

Petrichor

2023-08-05 05:18:50 UTC

Tan Teong Guan
56yo
Caregiver

I think I was in primary 5 or 6. The final examination was over. I was just watching cartoon in the living room , feeling so liberated and free. I have NOTHING to do except play for 2 whole months of school holiday. That was the time when the rain stopped, and I experienced petrichor.

It was the most liberating scent in my life.

When I have dementia, bring me for a walk after the rain, and I will share with you how carefree life can be when I was 5 or 6 yo.

Char Kway Teow

2023-08-08 09:02:51 UTC

Ang Tiat Leong
56yo
IT Engineer

I would always remember the nice aromatic scent of a plate of nice fried Char Kway Teow with a little charred smell - they called it the "Wok Hei".

When I was young, my family would visit either Gay World or Great World for our weekly entertainment. There will be many stalls for games, clothes, food etc .

I will always be mesmerised by burning stove of the Char Kway Teow stall. The uncle will be "dancing" in front of his stove and cooking in a frenzy. The sweet aroma of sinful lard, cockles, prawns, black soy sauce and chilli fried with yellow noodle and kway teow is ever so hypnotising!

Kueh Bahulu

2023-08-08 09:23:28 UTC

Dawn Oh
40yo
Events planner

Kueh bahulu is a traditional cake or snack usually baked in brass moulds which usually come in all sorts of sizes and shapes like fishes, flowers and most commonly, sea shells as those shown in this video above. As the main ingredient is egg, Kueh Bahulu is sometimes known as egg sponge cake.

My mom used to make really yummy Kueh Bahulu over charcoal back in the days when we were stying in the kampong. When we were young, my brother and I will help her when she was making the Kueh Bahulu to sell to the neighbours. It was always a fun activity for the whole family.

If I had dementia, the smell of the sweet warm scent of vanilla from the Kueh Bahutu will reminds me of my mom, my kampong, my childhood. I will be able share these stories with you.

三鳳海棠粉七姐粉

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-08 09:38:52 UTC

Sophia Tan
45yo
Finance consultant

I am always very intrigued by this pretty little metal box which my grandma used to "doll" herself up before she leaves the house. This magic powder is the M.A.C or Maybelline during my grandmother's time.

I will always remember this scent is rather similar to Talcum powder like Johnson & Johnson.

The moment grandma start powdering herself means it's time to jalan jalan.

If I have dementia, do use this scent to connect with me, and I believe I will have stories about my grandma to share with you.

Frangipani

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-08 09:49:46 UTC

Ang Hang Guan
56yo
Engineer

The hauntingly sweet scent of frangipani brings me back to my secondary school days in the Chemistry Laboratory.

I remembered a few of us were trying to make perfume out of a bunch of frangipani which we picked from our school compound.

The process involved heating plant materials in a distiller to extract their essential oils, capturing the evaporated oils and other components, and condensing them into a liquid form. The resulting liquid can then be mixed with carrier oils and alcohol to create a unique scent.

Needless to say, the entire experiment was a disaster. The flowers were burnt, no essential oil was extracted and thank god the Chemistry lab was not on fire.

If I have dementia, a whiff of the sweet scent of frangipani will brings me back to my secondary school days and I will have tonnes of stories to share with you about that fateful chemistry experiment.

Agarwood

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-08 13:47:21 UTC

Ray
58yo
Finance consultant

The scent of Agar wood burning will send me straight back to the times when I had chicken pox . I was 5 years old then. My mother would carry me over the fumes of Agarwood like a form of healing.

As I was held over the lingering fume, I still remembered the scent of Agarwood is complex and pleasing, attractive with bitter sweet and woody nuances: seriously earthy.

Strangely, I felt better after that.
Nature heals.

Trying using Agar wood to connect with me if I have dementia. I will promised you more stories when I was younger.

Red date tea

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-09 04:34:59 UTC

Joseph Chua,
35yo
Occupational Therapist, St Luke’s Hospital

Trips to my grandaunts house were always a treat. Not least because she had Yakult in her fridge waiting for us but because the whole house would be filled with the woody, earthy aromatic notes of burning charcoal. Invariably, there would be a pot of red date tea simmering on the stove for the adults to savour.

We youngster would not be allowed to sip the red date tea as it was perpetually reserved for the “adults”, so we had to be content with our Yakults whilst looking enviously on.

Grandaunt is no longer around but whenever that familiar fragrance of red date tea wafts through the air especially during Chinese New Year, I would be transported to my grandaunt place, a time of innocence and youth, where Yakult was king.

The world was simpler and the beverage of choice was red date tea. As its scent filled our nostrils with the promise of sweet delight from the stewed dates and longans.

If I have dementia, a bowl of red date tea will invariably remind me of a simple life when I was younger and my favourite Yakult . Do use this scent to connect with me for more of my childhood stories.

Mee Siam

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-09 08:45:25 UTC

Ruth Liow
52yo
Retired accountant

The robust scent of a simple plate of mee siam will always reminds me of my swimming days in Buona Vista swimming pool.

There is a stall inside Buona Vista Swimming Pool that sells the most delicious mee siam. I would order a plate of mee siam every time after my swimming training. I was studying in Primary 6 then.

The hot and spicy dish, accentuated with the sourish asam, never fail to warm me up after my swim.

If I have dementia and you want to know more about my swimming days when I was in Primary school - cook me a bowl of mee siam. Its robust scent will bring my school days to live.

Petrichor

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-09 08:49:17 UTC

Justine Liow
54
Homemaker/song writer

Before I was married, I used to stay at Farrer Road with my sisters and parents . My sister and I would share the same bedroom.

I remember very clearly the scent of the rain that particular day after weeks of tropical heat during June. I was chatting with my sister in the bedroom and then, without warning, the blissful rain started like a baby christening.

It was not a very heavy rain so we keep the window opened.
When the rain started to subside, I could smell unique and earthy smell of rain emanating from the rapidly drying grass and trees outside our window.

I wonder what were we talking about on that day?

If I had dementia, perhaps this time round, the scent of the air after a heavy rain, will trigger my memory about what what my sister and I were talking about on that day.

Orange Jasmine

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-09 09:53:42 UTC

Lee Yan Kit
56 yo
Gardener

These small little Orange Jasmine give off a sweet smell that resembles orange blossoms and will waft through your house quite nicely.

Somehow, the scent of Orange Jasmine always reminds me of the roof top area at my then girlfriend's house at Lavender. We spent many hours chatting or just chilling after dinner at the roof top. We talked about our future and dreams there. We were in our 20s then.

Now every time when I am back in Singapore, we will try to visit that roof top. She is now my wife.

If I had dementia, connect with me using Orange Jasmine so that I can go back to that moment in my life with my beautiful wife at the roof top when we were young.

Johnson Baby Powder

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-09 13:18:11 UTC

Liow Chueng Ing
55plus
Homemaker

My mother used to douse me with Johnson Baby Powder after showering me when I was little. I feel refresh and clean after that.

When I became a mother myself, I did the same thing for my baby girl. I remember the baby scent of purity and innocence, mixed with the Johnson Baby Powder - it formed an unforgettable scent for me - The love from my mother and my love for my daughter.

Lastly , this scent also reminds me of my legacy.

Sharing my scent stories here will allow others to know what triggers my memory and hence able to connect with me.

Hot steaming rice

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-10 13:07:42 UTC

Nora Samosir
50s
Lecturer & actor

The fragrance of hot steaming rice is very comforting and is one of my earliest memories. It always reminds me of home cooked meals prepared by my mother.

Those days when I was rehearsing for plays , I would come home very late but there will always be some food prepared by my mother and a hot steaming bowl of rice waiting for me.

If I had dementia, cooking me a bowl of fragrant steaming rice will definitely send me back home to my mom and all the lovely home cooked meals. Then perhaps I can share with you more about the type of food my mom can cook.

Petrichor

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-10 13:10:06 UTC

Nora Samosir
50s
Lecturer & actor

When I was a child, whenever it rains in the afternoon, my mother wouldn’t let me go out to play. Then, when the rain stops and I was allowed out, the smell of the steaming hot air signals the freedom of the outdoors.

If I had dementia, I know it is impossible to bottle the scent of Petrichor to trigger my memory but you can bring me out for a walk after the rain. I will be able to share with you those carefree days what I did as a child with you and perhaps, you will know me better.

风油

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-10 13:48:11 UTC

晓
65 yo 演员

当我一看到故事的主题是SCENT, 我愣了一下。香味? 是任何让人闻了感觉舒服，感觉芬芳，甚至能引起食欲的香味。那些你心里深藏着的特别味道，每当它在你身边飘过，往往会让你想起一个人，忆起一段往事。
很感慨的，在我的记忆里，却找不到那芬芳飘逸的甜蜜香味，然而让我这18年来心里仍然隐隐作痛的唯一scent，竟然是母亲的风油味。

母亲，一向来都不想去看医生，因为家里贫穷，她知道，看一次医生的钱，可以买一个星期的腐乳，青菜。因此每一次她感觉不舒服时，她觉得风油，就是她的万能仙药。举凡，肚痛心跳，头晕呕吐，皮肤创伤，颈肩手脚肿痛，等等等等，她都是尽量隐藏自己的不适，偷偷摸摸的独自在夜里拼命涂风油，然后照常挺起精神，在孩子面前，撑着开心的慈祥笑容，继续从清晨到夜晚，服侍着她这一生中的唯一...我们，家。

因为房子小，我们都睡得很靠近，在数不尽的深夜里，我都被母亲的风油味飘醒。当我还在念小学时，我不是很了解这凄凉，我就会抱紧抱枕，按着自己的脸，继续呼呼大睡。
后来，母亲年纪越来越大，身体也越来越弱了，这风油味也在家里飘得越来越浓，越来越频密了。我每次闻到这母亲特有的scent, ,我就会很难过，也很担心。我会在她床边，拥抱她，紧握她的手...‘’妈，妳要去看医生吗？‘’ ，她会立刻撑着...‘’哎呀，不用lah, 我只是今天一直感觉天旋地转，我涂了很多风油，没事了。‘’
有时，一连两三天，我没有闻到母亲的风油味，我是非常非常开心的。

时间日复一日，母亲的特别的Scent, 跟我们的关系，也越来越浓，这我们又爱又恨的Scent, 它，早已侵入我们的思维，我们的肌肤，我们的整个空气里...它飘荡着，它亲吻着我们每一寸肌肤，它似乎在我们的耳边倾诉...你们是我一生中的唯一，我难舍，但我必须离。我会把我的风油留下...

那一夜，她静静的走了...在她的枕头下面，我找到了这个她亲手一针一针缝起来的小钱包。里面就放着母亲特有的伟大香味。还有她从年轻到年老，戴了70年的耳环。
在我心中，在我心灵深处，母亲的Scent, 永远与我同在。

Lemon grass

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-10 14:13:48 UTC

Joyce Chua
50s
Housewife

The scent of Lemon Grass always reminds me of my backyard. I grew a substantial amount of lemon grass as they are my essential ingredients for cooking.

The lemongrass herb has stalks that are fibrous and smell much like lemons. The scent of this fragrant herb never fail to invoke a happy and healthy feeling in me.

Tom yam soup anyone?

Please connect with me using Lemon Grass if I have dementia to trigger my good memories ok?

Lemon grass

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-10 14:42:55 UTC

Rachel Goh
35 yo Beautician

Lemongrass gives off a citrusy scent can help to uplift fatigued minds and energize the body. If you boil lemon grass with ginger and a dash of honey, it will become a nice calming welcome drink at a tropical resort like Banyan Tree.

Somehow, the scent of lemon grass reminds me of my trips to Phuket. Every time when I checked into a resort, the scent of lemon grass whether it is in the form of essential oil, drinks, or incense , never fail to engulfed me both physically and spiritually.

It is a scent that reminds me of the sea, sand and sun.
It also tells me that I am on a holiday on a tropical island.
I feel free.

Remember my stories and use Lemon grass to connect with me if I have dementia OK?

Buah Keluak

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-11 03:23:22 UTC

Gloria Lim
66yo
Retired housewife/Ex Caregiver

When you open the Buah Keluak, you will be greeted with a strong scent of dark chocolate or coffee. The Scent of Buah Keluak reminds me of my nonya grandma who was a lady ahead of her time. She played the church organ, taught piano, prep and taught me how to cook all the nonya dishes.

Grandma was also the matriarch of the family. A no nonsense person. Eventhough she is strict and stern but she loved all her grandchildren. She was very happy when we could play the piano. We weren't taught by her. Sadly she passed on when I was 17.

These days, when I am preparing a Buah Keluak dish, I can almost sense her loving presence around me.

If I have dementia, the scent of Buah Keluak will be able to send me back to my happy days with my grandma and I am sure I will have more stories to share with you about this matriarch of the family.

Note: I am the little girl standing in front of the birthday cake.

Kopi O

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-11 12:38:03 UTC

Dina Heng

40s

Training consultant

When I was young, I used to lived with my grandparents at Dawson Road. Every morning my grandmother would brew a big pot of aromatic kopi O for the entire family for breakfast.

I could smell the strong bitterness with slight sweet fragrance of the brew in the kitchen while I was brushing my teeth before going to school.

Grandparents will sit next to me and sip slowly on their Kopi O and eat their white bread or biscuit.

Kopi O means hot black coffee with sugar only. Grandma would go to the market and buy the grinned coffee bean every Sunday. They come in a brown paper bag.

Now I have to drink 3 to 4 cups of Kopi everyday. Each cup of Kopi reminds me of the carefree days when I was living with my grandparents and sitting in the tiny kitchen, enjoying our morning ritual of kopi O with white bread.

The place that my grandparents were staying has been torn down but my memories of them lives on.

If I had dementia, buy me a cup of Kopi O and listen to my stories behind this strong aromatic brew.

Bols Kirsch

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-12 01:56:49 UTC

Gloria Lim
66yo
Retired housewife/Ex caregiver

The smell of Bols Kirsch brings fond memories of my mom baking black forest cake. She was an extremely good baker and cook.

I was working with an International Hotel in the F&B dept when I was 17 or 18 back then. I made friends with the executive chef who baked one of the best Black Forest Cakes. He gave me his recipe and I shared it with my mom. She used his recipe ever since.

Sadly, my mommy suffered a major stroke in Dec 2001 and have not been baking nor cooking.

Sharing my scent stories here with you will allow us to connect when I have dementia - you just need to bring along a bottle of Bols Kirsch for me.

Otard

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-12 03:03:35 UTC

Fiona Yeow
70s
Retired model/Housewife

I came from a poor family.

When I was 18 years old, I became a model to help out with the expense of the family.
My height of 5ft 6 and half inches gave me a edge over many girls in modelling.

I remembered very clearly the smell of Otard when I doing the above photoshoot. I was very pampered by the photographer. They look after me so well - buying lunch and tea break for me, making sure I have enough rest.

I felt so loved.

I have also modelled for Bata, Dunlop pillow, Amy Wee Bridal Gown and more. (When I was married, my wedding gown was sponsored by Amy Wee Bridal)

If I had dementia, the scent of Otard will brings me back to my modelling days when I was 18 yo. I believe I will have more stories to share with you.

Dirt, river & Spruce Tree

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-14 01:47:57 UTC

Leslie Berggren
50s
Founder & Advisor at LOVE, NILS Ltd/Helping Non-Profits/Fundraiser/Donor Relations/Patient Advocate

I have many favourite familiar scent. I shall share some with you .

Spruce trees:
Reminds me of hiking in the mountains and Christmas

River and Lake water:
Reminds me of my childhood swims

Dirt:
Reminds me of Planting flowers
My mother taught me all about plants and how to plant them. She was an amazing gardener and made me go with her to the plant nursery all the time. At my young age, I hated it. But love it now.

Whenever I was doing my gardening, I could almost hear my mother sharing with me about her knowledge of the flora and fauna.

If I have dementia, I strongly urged my love ones to bring me hiking into the mountains and lakes where I can experience memory of me swimming and the scent of the wild flowers when I was younger. These moments will help me heal.

Kao Soap

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-14 02:14:46 UTC

Jasmin
60s
Administrator, Caregiver for mom living with dementia

My mother will use the coveted Kao white soap to bathe me when I was young. The graceful white floral aroma of this bar of soap trigger so much childhood memory of shower times.

Shower times are always fun!

If I had dementia, the scent of this white soap will send me back to my childhood days and I will be able to share my stories with you.

The beach

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-14 02:47:18 UTC

Leslie Berggren
50s
Founder & Advisor at LOVE, NILS Ltd/Helping Non-Profits/Fundraiser/Donor Relations/Patient Advocate
Ex caregiver for my mother living with dementia

My mother was living with dementia. She has passed away in 2022.

She used to love to write poetry at the beach. I believed her familiar scent that trigger her memory for writing poetry will be the smell of the salty sea breeze, the sound of the waves, the warmth of the morning sun and me by her side.

Like my mother, I love the scent of the beach too.

Sometimes, if the weather permits, I will bring mom to the beach and let her soak up the essence of the environment and slowly connect with her about her poetry writing moments.

If I had dementia, a casual walk on the beach will do me good to bring me to that special place when my mom is still alive and writing her poetry.

Dang Gui (Angelica Root)

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-14 05:33:38 UTC

Jasmin and mother
60s
Administrator, caregiver for mother living with dementia

Dang Gui or Angelica Root has a strong, unique smell that is often described as musky, earthy or herbaceous.

My mother is living with dementia now but I believe this scent will definitely trigger her memory since she used to double boil Dang Gui with charcoal for us to drink. The scent will filled up the entire house.

She told us drinking this mildly warming herb, Dang Gui, will nourishes our blood and invigorates blood circulation, and strengthen the heart, liver, and spleen.

For me, this scent will trigger my memory about my mother's love for us if I had dementia.

The musky burning smell of joss paper and joss sticks

2023-08-14 09:12:11 UTC

Gillian Wong
40s
Marketing Specialist.

The musky burning smell of joss paper and joss sticks transports me back decades to my grandparents' shophouse in Penang.

I used to visit them as a child in the 80s and with the home situated right in the heart of a busy street surrounded by commercial and residential shophouses, there was a constant smell of burning joss sticks and paper in the air.

Penang has a very large population of Chinese Taoists and Bhuddists so traditional Chinese customs and religions feature heavily in this quaint city.

The shophouse is no longer theirs and so much has changed around that area. But each time I get a waft of the musky burning smell, it triggers fond memories of me playing with my cousins and seeing my grandparents alive and well.

White Board Marker

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-14 10:06:08 UTC

Michael Lim
68yo Retired Teacher

The smell of a white board marker is a cross between paint thinner and diesel fuel, (The odor comes from the alcohol solvent that propels the ink from the marker.)

It will undoubtedly brings me back to my teaching days.
I remembered the hours explaining to the class what is potential and kinetic energy, E=MC2 and many more theories to the boys.

The school bell will rings and the boys will say "Thank you Mr Lim" and I will go to the teacher's lounge to do some markings or rush for another class.

Now I am retired, I wonder how the boys are doing?

If I had dementia, I believe the scent of these permanent markers will connect with me and my teaching days and bring back all the boys in the class.

Axe Brand Oil

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-14 12:45:15 UTC

Jenn Tan
56yo

The strong medicated scent of Axe Brand Oil is something that I do not like since young. But now, this scent reminds me of my mother.

My mother used to sit in the living room, apply this medicated oil on her nose and temple, while watching her favourite TVB cantonese drama series like "Man in the Net" starring Chow Yuen Fatt and Carol Cheng. Sometimes she would dosed off half way through the show.

After a while, she will wakes up and continued watching the show. Sometimes, when she gets very engrossed in the show, she will start scolding the antagonists.

I will be in the bedroom, pressing my nose into my pillow, listening to her commentary and doing my homework.

Now, there is no more homework.
There is no more TVB drama series.
There is no more commentary from mom.
The Axe Brand Oil is still around, together with the memory of my vivacious mother.

Though I don't fancy Axe Brand Oil but if I have dementia, a whiff of this medicated oil will trigger my most precious memories about my mom and I can tell you more about this awesome woman.

Chinese Dumpling

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-14 13:34:09 UTC

Janet Koh and my mother
60s
Ex-caregiver for 88yo mother who was living with dementia

Mum was a great cook. She made excellent dumplings.

The aromatic scent of the dumplings brings back meaningful memory of our bonding and building relationship as we made them together during the care partnering journey. Her labour of love making the dumplings so beautifully with the smell of sesame oil coming from the fillings inside , left lasting memories.

The little dumplings embody great depth and breadth of her experiences and mine. We have made these dumplings for many joyous occasions that will remain beautiful and last a lifetime.

Death ends a life, not a relationship.

The scent of this special recipe dumplings will always trigger memories about my mom for me. If I have dementia, this scent will brings back my mom for me and makes me very happy.

Roasting coffee

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-14 13:43:09 UTC

Karen Ang
Struggling housewife

When I was in primary school, i noticed this burnt smell near the Istana area, sometimes near the Stamford area. There wasn't any fire around these areas but the smell would return on some days. I could smell it from my school nearby.

I kept quiet about it, never asking my mom or anyone else if they had smelled the same thing.

It wasn't until I was at my brother's place many years later while he was roasting coffee that i smell that burnt scent again.

It's neither the familiar smell of brewed coffee nor burning ashes but somewhere in between.

Cut grass, Pandan leaves, tropical flowers

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-14 13:44:36 UTC

Kunyi Chen
Mom, Artworker

Cut grass, pandan leaves, sweetness of tropical flower all together:
Reminds me of childhood, walking through greens in Singapore when Singapore was greener many years ago when there are less development. Those days where farms still exist.

The smell of fresh cut grass and tropical flowers will trigger my happy memories if I have dementia. You can always bring me for a walk in the park to listen to more of my childhood stories and the older days of Singapore.

Sewage Plant (Verona & Montebello)

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-14 14:35:06 UTC

Karen Ang
Struggling housewife

Around 2008-2009 i would make trip to meet my then boyfriend for the weekend. I was living in Milan then, and he was living and still is living in Verona. It was a period of change for the both of us. The train to and fro Milan -Verona, was bearable at best but mostly stressful. Filled with delay, dirty, graffitied seats and students and tourist. There would blacks, Indians, Chinese. One big chaotic mess.

It went from Milan to Porta Nuova Verona where it would be the final one. Sometimes stop at Verona finish at Venice. The train would pass from the Piemonte region to the Veneto region. Nearing Verona you would be hit with the smell of sewage. It was not strong enough to knock you out but still very bad.

You are arriving or passing by Montebello. In Italian it means beautiful mountain... the irony. The sewage plants are still there. If you are ever on the way to Venice, you can experience this for yourself.

Sewage treatment is a super important part maintaining a city, don't judge. Think about the people that live with that smell everyday.

This sewage scent = My train ride from Milan to Verona = my exotic love affair in Italy

Coned sushi

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-15 07:25:17 UTC

Adrian Mangiboya
67yo
Retired journalist

Whenever I walk to my office from Yotsuya train station in Tokyo in the morning, which takes about 20 minutes, I pass by an old restaurant that serve’s Japanese breakfast. The smells of steamed rice and sautéed onions remind me of my home during my childhood when my older sister cooking dinner, because it was comfort food for my soul.

There was also another restaurant that sells Japanese lunch boxes. The aroma of vinegared rice for coned rice (inari sushi) brought back memories of family picnics that we had at the beaches in Hawaii where we had the coned sushi with bbq meat and other food.

Now that I’m retired, I don't have a chance to enjoy those smells because I don't walk that way to office anymore.

If I have dementia, buy me a coned sushi and I
guarantee you the scent will trigger my many childhood stories for you.

Axe Brand Oil

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-15 07:45:57 UTC

Emily Ong
40s
Dementia advocate/early onset dementia

Everyone responds differently to smells/odours, and when these smell/odor-linked memories are positive, our physical well-being and emotional and mental states improve. So, are there particular smells that always bring you certain emotions or memories?

Mine is the Axe Brand Universal Oil, which my late adopted father would use and carry in this pocket.

Frankly, I find the smell unbearable though my father found it pleasant. I guess it is like perfume some people will like the fragrance, while others will find it suffocating.

I would run far away from him whenever his version of aroma therapy was in the air. I used to joke with him that one day my brain would only remember him by the menthol smell of the Axe Brand Universal Oil. How true is that! Now whenever I need to use it to ease my headache, I would remember my father…He and his Axe Brand Universal Oil.

This scent helps me to connect with my past. It will ,somehow, enables me to go back in time and connect with a loved one whom I may have forgotten if my dementia has worsen. (sic)

Blue Grass

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-15 10:53:01 UTC

Tess Ford
70s
Retired housewife

When I was 16yo and I just left school. I was working as a dental nurse for $5 per week. It was alot of money in the 1940s.

That was the time when I felt independant like an adult.
I bought a bottle of Blue Grass with my first pay check. The scent of Blue Grass is a subtle essences of rose and carnation meet clove and invigorating bay leaf.

I can never forget this scent as it celebrate my first step into the "adult" work.

If I have dementia, buy me a bottle of Blue Grass will definitely trigger my "16yo memory" when I first start work. I will then be able to share more stories when I was 16yo with you.

Straw

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-16 12:42:15 UTC

Karen Ang
Struggling housewife

During my secondary school days, sometimes in the afternoon when I was home, I would smell a mysterious sweet herbsl scent wafting through the air.

This would go on for years, not everyday, but enough for you to notice. It was a very nice sweet scent, similar to straw.

It turns out that I lived quite near the Pall mall tobacco factory. The factory moved out of the neighbourhood eventually, so did that scent.

Burning incense paper

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-16 13:03:31 UTC

James Foo
35yo Marketing manager
Caregiver for dad who is living dementia

The smell of incense paper burning tells me 7th month or the Ghost Festival is here.

I was about 5 yo and I was helping mom to fold the incense paper into the shape of gold ingot is an annual affair when It was 7th month (Ghost Festival)

Mom will prepare a feast consists of steam chicken, roast duck, fruits and sweets for offering to the wondering spirits.
In the evening, we will bring the big bag of gold ingots down to the first floor of our HDB flat and scout for a nice spot on the grass patch, lay out the fruits and candies and start to burn the gold ingots.

I was always a little spooked seeing many of our neighbours doing this similar ritual as us in the night. It was like ringing the bell for dinner time for the invisible guests.

It is important to share these memories now because when I am older and if I had dementia, this can be used as a conversation starter to connect with me.

Chinchalok

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-16 13:22:04 UTC

Thian Chin Ngoh
89yo person living with dementia

The scent of Chinchalok is both robust , some might describe as pungent, of fermented small shrimps or krill. It can turn some people off but never my son.

My Perenakan mother taught me to add slices of onion and some chilli padi and mixed with the Chinchalok and served as a side condiment during dinner. Whenever I made Chinchalok ,my son will manage a big scoop to pair with his IKAN TENGGIRI, sambal lady's fingers or even egg omelette.

He loved Chinchalok.
I loved that he loved Chinchalok.

The scent of Chinchalok will always trigger the memory of my mother teaching me about Perenakan cooking and my son's radical love to pair Chinchalok with any dishes during meal time.

Black bean fish

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-16 15:56:34 UTC

Alison
56 yo
Fulltime caregiver for mother living with dementia

The familiar scent for me is my mother's “tao jio fish” (fish cooked in black bean) but with an Indonesian twist, more tangy and aromatic but not foregoing the black bean flavor thrown in. The exact recipe that makes my mouth water and stomach juices going at the very thought of savouring each bite. Best combined with a hot bowl of rice.

No didnt cook with her.

I will always remembered when I was in my 20s, after a long day at work, especially on a rainy day, thats all i looked forward to. This scent of the robust black bean fish reminds me of home.

If I have dementia, the fragrant smell of this dish will reminds me of my mom and her culinary skill, most of all, the warmth of home at the end of a hard day's work.

She baked an assortment of special CNY cookies to give away too. Like cat’s tongue, sunflower cookies, sugee, kueh bangkit, peanut butter 🍪 etc etc…. This bottle is just 1 example i hv remaining in my photo album. The smell of freshly baked cookies from the oven used to fill my entire home and the scent carried out into the common corridor of our apartment. Neighbors would come over bcos they knew Alicia was baking!! 👩🏻‍🍳

耐斯洗髮粉

2023-08-18 02:20:39 UTC

Catherine Sng
72yo
Actor

我開始熟知洗髮粉的品牌，其實是耐斯洗髮粉，那時的洗髮用品屬於「脫普，耐斯，花王」三強鼎立的局面，猶如「美琪」瓜分香皂市場的態勢。母親嫌辮子麻煩，我的童年髮型幾乎都是貼耳的「阿哥哥頭」。母親給我一包耐斯洗髮粉，用剪刀剪成小斜角缺口，先把細細粉末倒在掌心，加一點水，搓揉出泡沫，有時水龍頭水勢過大，粉末像四散竄逃的小兵，一轉眼就朝出水口奔逃，一整包分量，總會流失半包。那時洗髮洗澡強調潔淨，沒有什麼滋潤的成分，洗完乾乾澀澀，我又是自然捲髮質，毛巾一擦，自然風吹乾，鋼絲頭炸裂的蠢樣。

If I have dementia, the scent from this little packet of shampoo powder when you used it to wash my hair, undeniably , will trigger my childhood shower time with my mom. This memory will bring a smile to my face and perhaps, I can have some kind of contentment.

Chlorine

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-19 13:19:28 UTC

Heath Yeo
52
Design and Embroidery

As I've lost my sense of smell/scent, it is quite unfortunate that I could have missed out on many since young especially food when my friends will share about how aromatic certain neighbours' cooking were.

But I am still blessed with the good taste buds so I won't miss out any on how nice they all tasted..

If I have to recall of one scent that reminds me / leads me / bring to me fond memories... It has to be the smell of chlorine of the swimming pool.

Swimming being my only form of sport, I take to the pool doing as many as 20 to 30 laps non-stop / continuously each time I dive into it , 4 times per week.

As chlorine being a strong agent, whenever I smelt it , it would bring fond memories of me as a happy child playing in the pool to doing my laps as an adult.

Swimming , for me besides the ability to build up my general cardio, also refreshed me in our hot humid weather.

The only reason why it brings about so much memories is because I had also ruptured my eardrums and therefore no more swimming until the day I seek medical procedure to have it "patch" up

If I had dementia, the scent of chlorine may trigger both good and bad memories for me. However, this can still be a good to share my stories an have a conversation with you.

Chinese New Year Cookie

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-22 08:15:30 UTC

Alison
56 yo
Fulltime caregiver for mother living with dementia

My mother loved to bake.

She will baked an assortment of special Chinese New Year's cookies to give away to friends, relatives and neighbours too. Like cat’s tongue, sunflower cookies, sugee, kueh bangkit, peanut butter etc.

The smell of freshly baked cookies from the oven used to fill my entire home and the scent will carried out into the common corridor of our apartment. Neighbours would come over because they knew Alicia was baking!

If I have dementia, buy me a box of cookies to trigger my memory for my mom and those wonderful moments when she was baking up a storm in the kitchen during Chinese New Year!

I believe the scent of cookies will also have some healing properties for memory reminisence for my mom.

Incense Coil

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-23 09:50:55 UTC

Ivan Loh
49yo
Caregiver for late father who had multiple strokes, and mother who has Parkinson's disease.

My dad was physically disabled due to a stroke. He was residing in a nursing home since Sept 2012 until he passed in 2016. I will visit and bring him home every month for a few hours.

Upon entering our home, I will push him in front of the altar, and helped him light an incense coil ( 盘香) for offering to the Shakyamuni Buddha.

Now I try to involve my mum, who is also physically challenged, in this morning prayer ritual too.

This simple act of religious offering is not easy especially when we are unwell. It takes a lot of effort to fulfil. Thus the saying
心有余而力不足 rings true.

If I ever have dementia one day, I believe the scent of the incense will bring me back to my spiritual roots, and also reminds me of my parents, and an important family ritual.

Chinchalok

2023-08-24 10:48:24 UTC

Catherine Khoo
64 yo
Author, Educator and Publisher

Dad passed away in 1983, some 40 years ago. Dad was a Peranakan and loved all things spicy. His favourite was chinchalok made by Mum. Dad had chinchalok with everything he ate. It was, for him, a dipping sauce, fried with eggs, stirfried with pork or chicken, even fried rice with chinchalok.

How do you make chinchalok? Throw a heap of fermented shrimp into the mortar. Add lime juice, shallots and chilli. Use the pestle to lightly grind them together. And you have that special pungent sauce that Dad loved.

I loved chinchalok as much as Dad loved it. The more pungent, the better the taste. Mum doesn't make them anymore after Dad passed away. But sometimes when we take Mum out for hawker's food, and we order BBQ stingray or squid, it would come with a saucer of cincalok sauce. And I would recall the days when Dad and me would never start eating dinner until that saucer of chinchalok sauce is on the table!

If I have dementia, serve a portion of chinchalok with my meal will definitely trigger the good old memories of my makan outings with mom and dad.

Brylcreem

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-24 13:37:34 UTC

Sarin Abdullah
51 yr old
Heritage Advocate

When I was a very young girl, perhaps 4 or 5, I remember my late grandpa buying a fresh red pot of brylcreem every two weeks. After my evening bath, he would take a big glob of it and spread it through my curly hair, making it smooth and slick. I remember that distinctive sweetish-oily smell that would sometime tickle my nose, causing me to sneeze, and my grandpa would simply wipe my nose on his singlet.

When I was about 6yo, the first Superman movie starring the late Christopher Reeves came out. I was star struck by that S curl on his forehead! Every day I would make sure that my grandpa combed my hair the exact same way. However, as my hair was very curly, that S curl would disappear within an hour! So i would dig into the pot again (when he wasn't looking) to make that S shape all over again. My grandpa often grumbled that the hair cream finished way too fast… that was the reason.

Till today, when i smell a whiff of brylcream, I remember those times when having a perfect S curl really made my day.

If I have dementia, use Brylcreem to connect with me down my memory lane. I will share more stories with you about my grandpa and the world at that time.

Brylcreem

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-24 14:37:00 UTC

Sham
43yo
Educator

When I was young I was always enticed by Brylcreem, a that hair cream which my dad used. The fragrance, the texture.. made me wanna eat it.

I used to scoop a big lump of Brylcreem and smeared it on my hair and when I showed mum, she would be so paranoid because she thought I hit my head somewhere till my brain juice (hair cream) oozed out.

If I have dementia, the scent of this Brylcreem will send me laughing and I will share this story with you over a cup of Teh Halia and Kueh Dada.

Roasted Hainanese Coffee Beans

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-26 13:57:40 UTC

Jessie Tan
56yo
Sales

I love the scent of freshly roasted hainanese coffee beans. I grew up in a shophouse along Indus Circus back in the 1970s. Next door was a coffee roaster, the smell of freshly roasted coffee bean was a daily affair. Now, whenever I smell freshly roasted coffee beans, it will always take me back to my childhood, when life was simple, but complete. We were poor, but contented. We did not have a lot, but we were happy. There wasn't many of us, but we had everyone. Isn't that all that matters?

If I have dementia, connect with me through this robust smell and I will definitely be able to share with you my stories.

SNAP—The detergent that mops your floor

CharactersStuff — 2023-08-28 13:49:46 UTC

C Melodie
24
Project Manager

Yeah, the smell of the floor that's being mopped by this very specific detergent.

Do smells really need to be connected to very specific or sentimental memories? I believe it's the scents that you're the most used to, a frequent scent that makes it so easily recognisable that if I walk by a mopped floor, I'd be able to recognise if they are using the same brand as what my family uses at home.

It's always a Saturday morning, the sounds of an extremely loud vacuum followed by the wet floor emitting the scent of detergent. Maybe it's the routine of having a whiff of it every week that makes me quite like the smell of it. Reminds me that my mum is home, mopping the floor, and humming to worship songs on YouTube.

Or maybe it's when it isn't there anymore. When both my parents are overseas and my Saturday morning feels incomplete without waking up to wet floors and my mum yelling "be careful! Don't slip and fall!"

But maybe the reason why this scent is so special to me is the childhood memories I have of stepping on the mop to clean my feet whenever my dad or mum was mopping. The reaction was almost instantaneous the moment my siblings and I take a small whiff of the detergent. We put our legs out and wait for the mop so we can step on it to clean the soles of our feet.

It has gotten to the point where the detergent that the cleaners use to clean the malls make me feel like something is wrong. The smell isn't quite right. Visually, I see the wet floor, but my nose doesn't agree with the reality and can only associate the smell of SNAP with wet floors.

It got to the point where I had to ask my mum for the specific brand so I could buy it for my future house.

If I have dementia, this detergent would be bringing my childhood, bringing my past home, and bringing my mum's Saturday morning routine back into my memories. (SIC)

Dettol - More than a disinfectant

2023-08-29 05:37:48 UTC

Vincent Yong
40s
Founder of Danspire
www.danspire.com

Age 27, a mother of 2 was at work.
Age 7, a boy with a hole in his heart started his housework.
For a dad, at 31, was not capable to comprehend his leaving would cause a chain of reactions that would impact the lives of those he created...

Pulling a fibre from a thread, this story is a short version of pain and joy.

When mommy is away at work, kid poured Dettol into a bucket filled with water. Popped in a mop and sloshed around until the living room became wet.

Adventure began with running and sliding on the knees across the room just like rock stars gliding across the stage in a similar fashion.

The smell of Dettol for what it meant was embodied through the act of accomplishing the chores.

A child sometimes do not know what they are programming in themselves until one day, in their 40s, they realised they had simply turn pain into a livable experience over the same stir of their tea one afternoon, just like the mop in the bucket of Dettol.

We often cannot change the things that happen to us but be assured that we are capable of shifting our perspectives. It is through that, we are empowered with courage to act upon our own fears and lack instead of being controlled by it.

DETermined TOLerance can lead us into a space of the lesser known ...so that we may discover our strengths and reignite the fire that is meant to burn freely within.

If I had dementia, DETTOL will be a good tool to connect with me- unlocking the box of memories.(SIC)

Vitalis Hair Tonic

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-29 14:17:45 UTC

Francis Ong
56yo
Commodity Trader

I remembered the very "alcohol" scent of Vitalis.
It was quite the hip thing to use for hair in the 60s/70s

I would use it before I go to school.
I would use it before I am out for a movie.
I would use it after my swim.

Of course when other brands like Gatsby came along with its aggressive advertisement, Vitalis faded into the dark.

However, the scent of Vitalis will always mark a significant period in my life. If I have dementia, try using Vitalis to start a conversation with me and you will get to hear many stories about the 60s/70s.

Petrol

enableasiaevents — 2023-08-31 02:13:39 UTC

Kunyi Chen
Mom, Artworker

Petrol:
Reminds me of driving trips to Malaysia during school holidays to see my cousins. It was happy nostalgia.

The scent of petrol will trigger my happy memories if I have dementia. You can always bring me for a car ride to listen to more of my road trips to Malaysia.

Cut grass

enableasiaevents — 2023-09-01 12:44:09 UTC

Kim Dy-Liacco
47yo
Arts & Education Manager
Marketing support for The Enabling Festival

Warm. Pungent. Earthy. Fresh, like clean water or raw cabbage. Mildly astringent. Dry.

My childhood home is a small bungalow laid with parquet floors and flanked by jalousie windows. A garden, lined with hibiscus and ixora, rests out front and bends into a narrow pathway along a stretch of backyard.

On weekends, a gardener tackles the overgrowth with an unwieldy pair of shears, squatting expertly close to the ground and pausing only to yank out the occasional relentless weed. The slicing sounds resume, squeaking and swooshing through all the green.

But it is the whiff of freshly-cut grass that announces the frenzy of activity, even before I wander into the garden to breathe in my curiosity.

If I have dementia, the scent of freshly-cut grass , will brings me back to my childhood days of curious expeditions in the garden. (SIC)

Curry Leaves

2023-09-05 15:44:22 UTC

Anjang Rosli
59yo
Retired person with early onset dementia and a Dementia Adovcate

Whenever I've the scent of curry leaves upon walking at my neighbour plants. It triggered deeply to my late mother who was bedridden for almost three years with multiple strokes attacks.

I'll visiting her almost daily at my sister's home. I'll hold tightly her beautiful hands, hugged & kisses her with all the sincere loves from my heart.
She can't talk properly but her awesome beautiful smile always melts my soul. Always joke how handsome her son is, with white beards looking like an old goat.

She'll hold my beards & starts to have smiles & small laugh.
Her best cooking is the fish head curry. I'll always asked her to place a little bit more of the curry leaves. I'll usually plucked the leaves after smells the extra ordinary aroma of curry leaves. She will then happily cook my favourite fish head curry.
Due to always watching & helping her prepare this special dish. I was able before my dementia strike me to cook fish head curry dish quite well.

But now after dementia I was unable to prepare the dish. I can only smells the curry leaves scent to infused the remembrance & memory of my mother.

It's also a form of neurotherapy to rewire my other neuron sypnases in order to sustain my dementia. It's also a form of neurogenesis healings to grow my damaged neurons.

I'll always stopped at my neighbour home who planted the curry leaves plant & hold to inhale the scents.
I've forgotten many life episodes but this scent is a gift from heaven. (sic)

Ken Ken cuttlefish

enableasiaevents — 2023-09-08 10:01:36 UTC

Moses Sia
56yo
Educator/ Artist

I enjoy the smell of dried cuttlefish and dried oysters. I cannot say that I love it so much that I want to smell like them but I do enjoy that salty, fishy, seaside aroma.

As to the exact reason or point of time when I acquired this liking, I am not sure except that I suspect that it has probably something to do with my mother.

It was mentioned in passing that in her younger days, my mother worked in a factory that grilled cuttlefish. Was this before she was married or right into when she was pregnant with me, I wouldn’t know. This was not something I ever thought to find out more about. All the same, I was amused by this anecdote because in Cantonese, to “fry cuttlefish” (chow yao yui) is to fire someone from a job.

Something also happened to one of my mother’s ears causing it to have a constant liquid discharge which had a similar smell. When did this happen to my mother, I am not sure either.

All these might or might not explain why I enjoy that occasional pack of Ken Ken Cuttlefish or how in my family I most enjoy eating the dried oysters in the Chinese New Year dish ho see fatt choy.

Goji Berry Drink

2023-09-11 02:09:20 UTC

Stephanie Tan,
30s,
Community Advocate, caregiver to Dad & Ah Ma

My Grandma, Aunties, Mum and I have dry eyes. This drink is such a generational drink for my family because of our dry eyes. Peculiarly, only the daughters of the family seem to have this trait. Perhaps, this is one of the many ways this nostalgic smell of brewing Goji Berries connects us.

If i have dementia, i hope the smell of Goji Berries brewing in hot water will help me remember the lovely ladies in my family.

Straits Times News Paper

2023-09-11 02:18:20 UTC

Stephanie Tan,
30s,
Community Advocate, Caregiver to Dad and Ah ma

My parents used to have their own business at an old shop house. Everyday for years we recieve newspaper at our door step. If I was fast enough to catch the delivery uncles footsteps and slipper sounds l would dash over to receive it from him. Like a game almost, that I would win when I beat him to the gate.

As a young child I loved flipping through the "dirty" newspaper and if you flip fast enough.. the recycled paper smells and ink smells permeate.

Also amazed at how my mum uses newspaper for everything! As a wrap to protect tupperware food spillage to my aunties to making newspaper balls with window cleaner liquid to clean mirrors and windows. Mum is the OG, triple threat.. of reuse, reduce and recycle.

If I have dementia, the smell of newspapers would remind me of my creative and resourceful mum and how freely she encouraged my creativity.

Smoke from Hindu Temple’s Burnt Ashes in Red Clay Pot & Catholic Church’s Incense Burner

2023-09-11 14:03:12 UTC

Margaret Low-Tremolieres
Early 50s
Relief Teaching Support for Autistic Children

The peculiar burning smell diffusing from a Hindu red clay pot and that from a Catholic Church’s incense burner stirs many memories from my childhood to the hood that I used to stay…

I am a born Catholic who was baptized and used to attend a Catholic Church along Queensway that is near a cluster of old HDB flats at Tanglin Halt, which most aunties and old taxi drivers would usually call that cluster of flats as “Chap Lau” or 10 Storeys in Hokkien. Next to that Catholic Church is a Hindu temple, which sometimes has its Hindu ritual while many church goers are leaving the church after their mass. I used to be one of them and I was probably no more than 6 years old. The Hindu ritual does involve the burning of Hindu incense, which usually is done in a small reddish-orangey clay pot with the ashes of the incense being left in the pot thereafter. It was this scent that I could relate to when I attend church masses as the priest would swing the incense burner and releasing the smoke and scent during one of the rituals of the mass. I love that incense burning smell as it brings back all those childhood memories that I spent at that church and my old hood, Queenstown.

I moved out of Queens Crescent at 7 years old. I did go back to that same Catholic Church when I was staying at Normanton Park and I still see the Hindu temple next to the church. Whenever I go past that church these days, not only does it remind me of my childhood, it also reminds me of those days when I used to drive my mom to that church when she was still in the moderate stage of her Alzheimer’s.

If I have dementia, do light this Hindu incense and let me travel back to a time when life was simpler. (SIC)

Mint

2023-09-12 06:15:15 UTC

William Stuart Koh
18yo
National Service, Caregiver for mother with dementia.

My mother's favorite scent would be mint. Mint plants usually grows in cold countries such as Scotland, where my mother is from. It reminds her of the farm where she grew up in and the large fields that surrounded her house. However, there was a more distinctive and strong smell that she loved which was the smell of mint which grew in her backyard. When I was young, she would bring mint leaves into the house and ask me smell it.

In Singapore, mint leaves can't grow well here and the closest smell of mint that is accessible to us would be mint leaves in the tea she likes to drink every morning. However, nothing beats freshly plucked mint leaves straight from the garden.

Eurasian potato corned beef

enableasiaevents — 2023-09-12 12:38:01 UTC

Sasha Gonzales
40s

The scent that trigger a familiar memory that reminds me of my loved ones is my mother's Eurasian potato corned beef cutlets, which smell of fried potato, salty corned beef, and spices like cinnamon and cloves.

When I was growing up she would make this every Christmas and Easter. Our guests and family loved them so she used to make trays upon trays of these cutlets. She'd wake up early to start frying them, filling the whole house with the smell of these cutlets and it was something we really savoured and looked forward to eating.

If I dementia, this treasured recipe of corned beef potato cutlets will definitely trigger festive memories of Christmas and mom.

Medicated oil and steam egg

enableasiaevents — 2023-09-12 12:56:07 UTC

Cheren
Writer, caregiver for mother.

I had memories of my Popo doing a specialty dessert Steamed Egg which stemed in my mind for the longest period although she has passed away nearly 40 years ago.

The smell of the rich eggy and vanilla fragrance, the "doin doin" feel on the spoon, the smooth texture which actually melted in your mouth. I can even link her kitchen which had very traditional small mosaic floor tiles through this smell.
The dessert remained as my most favourite during my childhood days. Popo would make this for me whenver l went to her place.
Until....
I was entering her house one day and l smelled medical oil (风油). I thot it was quite normal for old people to use for their small sickness. However the smell was even stronger when the bowl of steamed egg was put in front of me. Mum immediately sensed something was wrong. We realized that Popo had mistakenly replaced vanilla essence with medicated oil. Mum managed to find the half emptied culprit and the bottle of tiny green medicated oil still lingered in my mind after all these years.

After this incident, Popo never made my favourite dessert anymore.
I refused to associate that pungent medical oil with Popo. All these years, the memory of the steamed egg with vanilla fragrance remained as a fond memory, as though l can immediately see Popo's silhouette, busy in the kitchen preparing my favourite dessert...

Baby Powder

2023-09-12 18:25:37 UTC

Gillian Chee
50s

The smell of baby powder is synonymous with babies, but for me it triggers the fondest memories of my time living in Sriracha, Thailand.
My children’s preschool would smell distinctively of baby powder. It was almost a daily ritual after cleaning up, the children would be given a very generous dusting of baby powder. Giggles and the talc perfume would fill the room as the kids would ask for more until they were coated like frosted muffins. The caregivers would gleefully call them “Homm”(fragrant in Thai)

This fragrance also brings me back to my first time celebrating Songkran, the Thai New Year. A group of us foreigners sat on the back of a tall truck armed with bazooker water guns. We were happily “shooting” away at the passer-bys and motorists. Just as we felt rather triumphant, we halted in a traffic jam and the water fight became intense. Not only did we battle against the neighbouring trucks, the villagers sprayed at us with their water hoses. Some even climbed up to our truck with water basins filled with icy cold water. We were all drenched from head to toe. The next thing I knew, my face was plastered with some white gooey substance that smelt of the all too familiar, baby talc. The fun went on for hours, continuous water splashing and more palms to our cheeks with the white paste from the friendliest folks.

We thought the face paint was some kind of warrior tribal face stripes. But later we learnt that along with the water splashing; it is a tradition to make “Din sod pong” which is a paste mixture including baby powder and put on the faces of one another, as a way of wishing good luck.
What an unforgettable and fun experience it was. Just as Thailand is known as “the land of smiles” the scent of baby powder never fails to bring a smile to my face.

If I ever have dementia, please use baby powder to trigger my fondest memories of my time in Thailand.

Sam Fong Hoi Tong Powder

2023-09-16 05:24:48 UTC

(Mah Kiew Moy) Grandma uses this very often, smell triggers her memory of her own mother, my great grandmother. Reminds her of her youth, a bygone time in her 40s and 50s.

It triggers her memory of her wanting to doll up and look good😂

Handkerchief with a knot

enableasiaevents — 2023-10-03 13:06:08 UTC

Richard Baba Tan
60s
Show producer, Caregiver for mother in her 80s living with dementia

It's been over eight years now. Today, my mother is in an advance stage of dementia, where she can no longer open her eyes or talk. I still dabble a little of this cologne on her pillow, as it brings her some comfort. A familiar smell where she used to dab a few drops at the corner of her handkerchief, tied into a knot (with a twenty cent coin inside).

When the time comes for Mum to cross over, this same cologne together with scattered 'bunga ramay' (peranakan potpourri) will fill her coffin as a final send off. When we get a whiff of this scent, we will instantly recall sweet loving memories of Mum.

A timeless scent from her past to the present. For a future time to remember.

Thai basil

2023-10-30 08:04:56 UTC

Tricia T, 20s

My Thai mother packed her entire life into a suitcase over 30 years ago and moved to Singapore to start a family with my Chinese father in Singapore.

Lucky for me, my mother is a wonderful cook and I was a "fat kid" growing up because my mum fed us so well with her delicious food. We could always count on her to feed us after a long day at work, when we're sick, and even when we're not hungry.

Thai basil is unlike any other basil, it is a remarkable herb that combines beauty, fragrance, and flavour in perfect harmony. An essential ingredient in Thai cuisine, you can find it on everything from salads to curries and everyone's favourite pork basil with rice.

The herb is used so much in her cooking that she grows many pots of Thai basil at the space in front of our door and under her nurturing hands, the plant grows well and I can smell the herb before I reach the front door.

After every harvest (sometimes I am tasked to harvest them), my mother will put some Thai basil in a jug of water, in the fridge or use it to cook.

The scent of Thai basil always trigger memories of me helping my mum cook Thai basil pork in the kitchen, it is always a reminder of my mother's warmth, love, and home.

Smell of steaming hot rice.

2023-11-05 15:01:11 UTC

James Jordan TAY,

late 40s, events and theatre practitioner

The smell of hot steaming rice will always bring me back to my childhood where I was rotated in the care between by paternal and maternal grandmother as both my parents worked.

I had a privilege of staying in Kampong Peck San Teng with my paternal grandmother and in a one room flat in Bendemeer with my maternal grandmother. Mealtimes were simple affairs of steamed fish fillets, minced meat steamed with Tong Cai (preserved vegetables), usually with a vegetable soup.

From time immemorial, with the smell of cooked rice, I can always remember both my grandmothers feeding me during mealtimes. They would place the spoon of rice into their mouths to test if the temperature is right before feeding me. My paternal grandmother would sit me down on her driveway, beneath a sprawling rambutan tree and feed me my dinner as the evening approaches.

The smell of steaming cooked rice will always remind me of my late grandmothers, as well as numerous mealtimes with my family, especially reunion dinners. This reality is even more pronounced when I travel for work in a country where rice is a not staple food.

Nature

enableasiaevents — 2023-11-06 06:04:23 UTC

Lim Lee Eng

45 yo, Owner of a Swimming School

I don’t have a specific scent that I remember that will trigger a story but I have always love the scent of nature.

The scent of the salty sea breeze, waves from the mighty sea, the December rain... the smell of flowers around us, plants in my garden... all of God's creation but not the hot sun.

I guessed these scents around me affirmed my existence to a certain extent and I am very blessed by the Lord- That is my story.

If I have dementia one day, do bring me out for walks in the parks or by the beach, it will make me very happy.

Fruits

2023-11-06 08:08:09 UTC

Beatrice Tay

60s, retired.

.. to me, what's strongest olfactorily is the suggestion through my tastebuds (1st discovery might be scenting thru the nose.. & then it settles in the nasal passages, expands into the oesophageal passage AND i Taste an added dimension - the gustatory.

The CITRUSES : _Oranges, grapefruit, lemons, lime, pomelo_

As the knife slices through, we 1st breathe in the refreshing Spray of citrus oils from the RIND, maybe a bitter suggestion from the Pith. Even before we meet the juicy segments, we anticipate, we "smell" & "taste" how alive we will become when we allow the sacs burst. For me, citruses awake twin senses - olfactory & gustatory.

Tea Egg

2023-11-07 01:23:17 UTC

Alfred Tang, 46, Creative Strategist

This smell reminds me not only of my childhood but also my very early understanding of who I was and where I came from.

Born in Hong Kong, i left at a very early age (with no memories of it) and went to Indonesia before settling eventually in Singapore.

During my school holidays, my parents will send me back to Hong Kong to spend time with my grandparents, cousins and i suspect to learn cantonese.

In the early years, everything for foreign, people, food, cartoons in cantonese and the idea that i belonged to 2 places didnt register with me.

Then came one day, when i was about 6 and following my aunt around in Hong Kong, i discovered the Tea Egg... it was the most wonderful aroma, so rich and comforting.

That smell remained with me all these times and it marked for me a moment that i first connected with a home i didnt grow up in.

Till today, whenever i walk past a stall selling tea egg, I will take a good hard sniff and try to remember those childhood holidays back in Hong Kong

If I have dementia, a whiff of the nice comforting scent of Tea Egg will transport me back to the place where I came from, and I will share with you as much as I can about my childhood in Hong Kong.

蛇牌爽身粉

enableasiaevents — 2023-11-08 06:26:47 UTC

陳重源

50s, 90 歲媽媽的全職看護者

蛇牌原装粉具有独特而温和的薄荷味。

我记得以前曾经给妈妈用这个粉来缓解她穿尿布时的不适感。

这种粉末起到吸汗的作用，保持妈妈的皮肤干燥无汗。粉末中的薄荷具有天然的冷却作用，减缓出汗，而且不会阻塞皮肤毛孔。对于患有失智症的人来说，疹子可能会让他们感到不适、瘙痒和疼痛，因为他们无法表达自己的不适。

当我还年幼时，妈妈会在我洗完澡后给我用这种粉。我喜欢那种凉爽的薄荷感觉。

现在，轮到我给妈妈用这个粉了。我无法真正描述我的感受，但肯定是一种愉悦的感觉因爲能够回报妈妈的爱。

如果有一天我患有失智症，天气炎热，不要犹豫，给我洒点蛇牌爽身粉，让我保持凉爽和干燥，这样我会情绪愉快地与你分享我的故事。

Curry no hurry

2023-11-08 09:46:06 UTC

Daphne Lee,

40s Senior Writer, aspiring foodie and story-teller

This is home...my grandparents' home where curry mee, taken not in a hurry resides deep in my childhood memory. Travelling back to Muar in Malaysia where my paternal grandparents stayed was an annual affair for my family who are based in Singapore. Yes, both my parents are Malaysians and for a good part of my childhood, we spent every Chinese New Year back in Muar.

My vivid memory of my grandmother stirring a huge catering pot of instant curry mee noodles meant that it was time for all her grandchildren to have supper. And while the house was large, we knew the minute we caught a waft of that spicy broth, all of us would gather at the dining area, cousins united in our hunger, kids and teens waiting to slurp up the warm eggy soup (yes we had egg too!), to last us through the night as we stayed up to play card games and watched late night TV.

As an adult, I often think about why my grandma will choose curry, and not the other instant noodle flavours...and I wonder if I had cultivated my love for spice and chilli then. It does make me wonder, perhaps the union of food and gathering and the heartwarming effort of my grandma each time she fed her grandkids (we were about 30 of us) does tell us to take time and smell the curry.

Pandan Fragrance

2023-11-08 10:26:04 UTC

Alan Goh

40s, caregiver to father (Penang)

The fresh fragrance of Pandan will always remind me of my mother and the food she lovingly cooked for the family.

The fragrance of pandan is strongest when she used it to make Nasi Lemak and Chicken Rice. Not forgetting the use of it in cakes, especially my childhood favorite Pandan Sponge Cake (the round cake with the hole in the center) plus various other desserts.

Later on she would use it to enhance the soy bean milk she made at home once a month.

The pandan fragrance is now missed in the garden from the pandan which my mother planted. We would have neighbours and strangers too with whom we would share it with.

The scent of pandan which is a fresh and delightful fragrance evokes the love and care for her family of my mother who has now passed on. God bless her beautiful soul

The scent of rain

kelvinleeck — 2023-11-14 15:10:11 UTC

The smell in the air just as it starts to rain is a scent that brings comfort to me. I know to expect a refreshing of the environment, a cooling of the moment.
No other moment has that scent nor will any be as transient and fleeting. It’s special.

Onion and garlic

2023-11-14 15:46:49 UTC

Dr Cleo

30 yo

The smell of stir-fried food- almost ubiquitous with stir-fried garlic and onion within our Asian context- reminds me so much of my grandmother.

I’m a food-lover, but most especially I loved my grand-mother’s cooking. And the whiffs of fried garlic and onion from the kitchen were often the first signal that a sumptuous lunch/dinner was going to be served in due time.

When dementia set in for her and she no longer could cook, I began to realise what a privilege we were to have had a grandma who demonstrated her love for us through her thoughtfully prepared meals.

Those are core memories I continue to miss till today.

Smoky Stir-Fry Wok

live_word — 2023-11-15 18:07:42 UTC

Sharon Tan

55 yo

Therapy Assistant, St Luke's Hospital

Smell of smoky wok followed by fragrance of stir-fry shallots, garlic & other ingredients immediately fill the house. I’m moved by the scent of familiarity & overwhelmed by my Mum’s determination to return to her favorite cooking.

More than 6 months after her surgery for diverticulitis & diagnosis of mild mixed dementia, the family had deterred her from cooking for safety reasons. However, my Mum was a strong willed person so we ended up giving in to her with umpteen reminders about safety.

My Mum used to cook wide spread of delicious dishes & snacks but with dementia kicking in, she has forgotten most of the recipes. Time being, she's repeating her dishes weekly but once in a while she surprises us with something new.

I trust my Mum continuing to do what she likes is a form of empowerment; and the scents she indulges during cooking provides her with satisfaction.

Wooden chest

2023-11-17 13:32:30 UTC

Gillian Hong,

28 yo

Occupational Therapist, St Luke's Hospital

When i was a child, i loved every overnight stay at my grandparent's house. The house was filled with many antiques that my grandfather used to collect. In particular, there were a few wooden chests that he used to store calligraphy works and art pieces. These wooden chests give off a distinct earthy smell that would naturally permeate the whole house. And i spent my childhood at this house, with this perpetual aroma.

It was absolutely enjoyable spending time at this house — watching my grandfather do art in his study room, watching my grandmother cook scrumptious meals and having fun with my cousins.

My grandparents are no longer around (and so is the house). But whenever i open the wooden chest now situated at my house, the earthy smell would effect me going back in time — to the house and people that meant so much to my childhood.

When I have my 'hair raising' moments.

2023-11-25 03:34:49 UTC

The scent of having this on my "youthful" hair, it brings a sense of firmness and calm

If only I could used it once again

MAO SHANG WANG

enableasiaevents — 2023-11-25 03:56:42 UTC

Welton Seah 40s

Events Consultant

Which Singaporean do not like Durian?

I remembered when I was 5yo, in the 80s, Durian was a seasonal fruit unlike these days, we can have durian 24/7. It was an expensive treat too!

I wanted to eat Mao Shang Wang and was throwing a fit!

To appeased my raging tantrum, I distinctively remembered my father went to buy a Mao Shang Wang, during off peak season, for $50 just to make me happy. The Musang King durian, also known as Mao Shan Wang, is one of the most highly sought-after durians in Singapore with its distinctive vanilla cream pungent scent.

Looking back, I thought I was behaving like a brat but it was a beautiful moment when the whole family gathered and savoured the King of Fruits in the kitchen that evening.

If I have dementia, just present me with a Mao Shang Wang , I will share my childhood stories with you.

Smells from the Kitchen?

2023-11-29 07:03:21 UTC

Yvonne, 40s

St Luke's Hospital

The good old days with smells wafting from the kitchen and the sounds of the pestle and mortar thumping away were the memories of my childhood.

Often seated at the corner of the kitchen on a foot stool, Grandma would direct her little minion "me" to grind and smash the onions or chilli into smithereens. It was the most boring job for a little person but it gave me the chance to observe her movements in the kitchen and to appreciate the flow of her prep work as she made meals for the family. Meal times gave her the most joy. Her sense of hospitality always ensured she made more than enough. While I looked forward to the meals, I didn't quite enjoy the process of the prep work.

When a stroke befell her and Dementia had set in and Aphasia took away her speech in the late 90s. I was left with a shell of my grandma who could no longer enjoy the things that she used to do and it hit the family very hard. Resources for Dementia were not established back then and it was hard for caregivers to know enough about what to do. I believe that we have come a long way and the resources that we have now would have been a gamechanger for my family back then.

I now celebrate her life and remember her through her receipes and our time spent in the kitchen together. Thumping away at my pestle and mortar!

My after-meal treat

dannyenableasia — 2024-05-07 14:29:12 UTC

I still remember the sweet scent of this precious treat my mom would give me after my lunch and dinner.

She will poured this light and sweet "water" into a tea spoon and fed it to the anticipating 5 years old ME. It's like drops of heaven!

If I have dementia, please buy a bottle of Woodward's for me and trigger my happy memories of my childhood.